Frame for velocipedes



(NoModel.) 2 Sheets-Sheet; 1. J. S. COPELAND.

FRAME FOR VELOGIPEDBS.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. S. COPLAND. FRAME PGR VELOGIPBDBS.

10.562,067. PmentedJune 16, 1896.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES S. COPELAND,OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE POPEMANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE AND PORTLAND, MAINE.

FRAME FOR VELOCIPEDES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 562,067, dated June 16,1896.

Application filed November 7, 1895. Serial No. 568,165. (No model.)

To allai/hom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES S. COPELAND, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of the city and county of Hartford, in the State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Framesfor Velocipedes, tbc., of which the following1 is a specification,reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

This invention relates in general to the construction of frames forvelocipedes and the like, which are composed of tubes or other membersand tubular bodies, and more especially to the means for securing onetube or member to the frame or structure at its end to the side ofanother tube or tubular body which is disposed transversely to the firsttube or frame-brace-such, for example, as the main standard and thecrank shaft bracket of a bicycle-frame. Owing to the severe strains towhich bicycle and other like frames are subjected it is necessary thatsuch joints be very strong and that weakening of the parts to beconnected be avoided as far as possible. It is also desirable that theuse of superfluous material be avoided and that the joint be compact andpresent a neat appearance.

It is the object of this invention to provide for the construction of ajoint which shall answer these requirements, and the means by which thisresult is secured will be fully described hereinafter with reference tothe accompanying drawings, forminga part hereof.

In the drawings, Figure l is a transverse section of acrank-shaftbracket with a socket for the attachment of the main standardsecured thereto in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is anelevation of the same. Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are detail views of a thimbleemployed in making the joint. Figs. 6 and 7 are views similar to Figs. land 2, but showing a portion of the main standard applied to the socket.Fig. 8 is alongitudinal section of a crank-shaft bracket with the socketand a portion of the main standard, showing also an additional featureof construction which may be employed, if desired. Figsl 9 and 10 aredet-ail views illustrating more clearly the same feature. Figsll and 12are respectively a longitudinal section and a side elevationillustrating an application of the invention in a slightly-differentform to the joining of a main tube and an obliquely-disposed tube.

As represented in Figs. l, 6, 8, and lO of the drawings, the crank-shaftbracket A or other tube or tubular body to the side of which thestandard B or other member of the frame is to be secured has formedtherein, at a point corresponding with the desired 6o position of thetube B, a hole a, which is of less diameter than the tube B. Asocketpiece C, being a relatively short length of tubing, has one endstruck up or otherwise manipulated to form an inwardly-projecting flangec and to iit snugly against the tube A, the aperture left within theflange corresponding substantially with the hole d. A thimble D isformed from a short tube (shown in Fig.

4) of a diameter to ft in the hole a and the 7o aperture of the flange cby striking up or spreading the end, as at d. The thimble is inserted inthe hole a and the aperture of the flange c of the socket-piece C,preferably from within the tube A, and its other end is upset, as at d',to secure the socket-piece C firmly to the tube A. The tube B, which hasits end formed to fit against the tube A and is of a diameter to fitsnugly within or upon the socket-piece C, is then slipped into place 8o,and all of the parts are thereafter more firmly united by brazing orother similar means.

It is obvious that if desired the tube B may be made to fit either uponor within the socket-piece C, and accordingly the term socket-piece isherein used whether the part referred to receives the part B upon orWithin itself. It willalso be observed that the socket-piece affords asubstantial support for the tube or other frame member B, 9o and that bythe described device it is held rigidly and strongly to the tube A,whereby the joint between the tube or otherframe member B and the tubeAis even less liable to be broken than when the socket-piece is integralwith the tube A, although the amount of material is less and the cost ofconstruction is much less.

If desired, the end of the tube B may be provided with tongues b l) toenter holes a a 10o in the tube A and to be upset, as clearlyrepresented in Figs. S, 9, and l0, to thereby more firmly secure Athertube B to the-tuberi. This, however, vis ari-additional feature' and isnot essential to the proper carrying out of the invention, ashereinbefore described.

In the construction represented in Figs. 11 and 12 theinain tube Af hasformed therein a hole a2 of such size and shapeas to admit the end ofthe tube or member B Which isto be secured thereto. Vithin the tube A'is placed a tubular bushing E, which has a hole e of less diameter thanthe tube' B'. The socket-piece C', as before, is formed with aninwardly-turned i'lange c', Whichts snugly against the tubular body orbushing E, the aperture left Within the iiange correspondingsubstantially with the hole a. The thirnble D', substantially asbefore,is crimpedover both the edge of :ther hole ini ithe `bushing Eand the` iiange of the socket-piece C. ,"All of the. parts arerf iirmlyJunited' by brazing'` or `other similar` means.

Although I have herein i shown and described my invention asapplied tothe join-1 ing of the parts of a velocipede-fra1ne,it will beiunderstoodjth'atitfis not limited tot Athat or `to any particular use,- but may beein-4 ployed wherever one member.- of a frame Yor structure isito besecured at its extremity to a tube or tubular body.

-"Vhat I claim? and desirefto secureby L'etters Fatent, is-

l 1. rlhe Vcombination ofi a 'tubular body and a'eframe member-tobe`secured thereto, said tubular body being Ytransversely disposed withfrespectto the frame Inembervand `having a lioleinitsside, of asocket-piece adaptedfto receive the tube or frame 1nembe1up0norwithin'it and having an inwardly-turned iiange, anda thimble insertedthrough the hole in said ubular body5and having one endiupset to ngagethefinside of `said tubular body and the other end upset to engage theflange of said socket-piece, substantially as shown and described.

2.1The-co1nbination with a tubular body and a frame member toV besecured thereto having its end shaped `to iit against said tubular body,said tubular body being transversely disposed With respect to the framemember and having a hole in its side, of a socket-piece adapted toreceive the frame Vmember. upon orwithin it and-having aninwardly-turned flange, and a thimble inserted Vthrough the-hole in saidtubular body, and

having one end upset to engage the inside of said tubular body and theother end-upsetito engage the-.flange of said socket-piece,`substantially as shown and described.

3. The `combination with. a tubular body and aframe member xto be`secured thereto, of a socket-piece adapted-toreceive thefranie memberupon or `Withinit andhaving an inwardly-turned flange, and a thimbleinserted through a hole in said tubular body, and having one `endupsetto engage `the inside of said tubular body and the other end upsettoengage the flange `of saidy socket-piece, the said tubehaving tonguesupon its end entering slots1iin1 the tubular` bodyand upset to retainsaid tube .in` place, substantially as shown and described.

This specification signed andwvitnessed `this 4th day of` November, A.I). 1895.

